Welcome to the Enabling Technology March 2019 Newsletter!

As always, we hope that you will find something of interest in our newsletter but if not, or if you have any comments or questions, just drop us a quick email and let us know. We’d be delighted to hear from you.
You can email us at: info@enablingtechnology.com or call on 01785 243111. Mark.

Billionaire businessman Richard Branson is backing a new campaign to get 500 global businesses to commit to putting disability issues on their board agendas.

His Virgin Media business has already signed up, alongside nine others including Unilever, Microsoft and Barclays.

“Disability can no longer be a conversation reserved for charity and health organisations,” Branson said in a new campaign video. “It’s time more brands woke up to the collective benefits of understanding people with disabilities and their needs … The inclusion revolution is coming. Make sure it’s on your agenda.”

Deaf children fall behind at school, says charity
Deaf children in England are falling behind their classmates from primary school through to GCSE, analysis by the National Deaf Children’s Society shows.
Only 30.6% achieve a GCSE strong pass – Grade 5 or above – in both English and maths, compared with 48.3% of children with no special educational needs. And 57% fail to reach expected levels in reading, writing and maths in Sats tests at the end of primary, compared with 26% of children with no SEN.

Effortless email, entertainment and internet
Losing your sight is life changing. Technology could help you gain greater independence, but what if you don’t feel confident?
Dolphin GuideConnect is a talking digital assistant that brings you closer to family and friends. It helps you manage your everyday life and have fun. Simple internet access makes it easy to find information, be entertained and stay up-to-date with what’s happening in the world. GuideConnect is thoughtfully designed by and for people with sight loss, enabling you to enlarge the text or have it read to you. There are straightforward menus and lots of help. GuideConnect will talk you through every step of the way – you won’t believe how easy it is to use!

A major government contractor which conducts disability assessments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions is trying to recruit NHS nurses and offering perks including private medical care and company cars.
Independent Assessment Services, owned by French services giant Atos, highlighted the benefits in a jobs listing for the role of a mobile Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessor, which was aimed at health service workers.
Among the perks for the south of England job were “private medical insurance” and a “premium, low-emission company car”.
“No nights, weekends or bank holidays,” it read.
One ad, posted last month to a jobs website, said Atos hoped to employ nurses, physiotherapists and paramedics to carry out PIP assessments, which determine whether a claimant needs extra help.Read the full article here.

Row over cystic fibrosis drug that ‘costs too much’

Campaigners have warned that a row between the government and a US drug supplier could affect the life expectancy of thousands of young cystic fibrosis patients. A drug called Orkambi could help many of the 10,000 Britons living with the life-shortening condition – but it’s not yet available in the UK because the NHS says it costs too much.
Manufactured by the US pharmaceutical company Vertex, Orkambi is the first medication to target the cause of cystic fibrosis, not just to relieve the symptoms. Its listed price is £104,000 per patient per year and it’s already available in 10 countries including Ireland, Germany and the US.
In July, the NHS offered Vertex £500m over five years to access Orkambi and other cystic fibrosis drugs – it’s largest offer in the history of the NHS.
But Vertex said it wasn’t enough and negotiations stalled.
Read the full article here: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/row-over-cystic-fibrosis-drug-that-costs-too-much/ar-BBTHfui

The Human Cost of Dyslexia: Help us to influence British politicians about Dyslexia!

The British Dyslexia Association has teamed up with expert on dyslexia’s impact on families, John Hicks, to launch a survey on the subject.
Without early identification and appropriate support, many young people with dyslexia grow up feeling like they have little worth. The effects of this are borne by those with dyslexia and their family. It need not be that way.
The British Dyslexia Association are working to make early identification and tailored specialist support the norm. In March, John Hicks will be joining dyslexics young and old, other experts, and ourselves to inform the politicians in Westminster at the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dyslexia about the Human Cost of dyslexia.
To support the debate, we need you to share your family’s experiences of life with dyslexia. The anonymous, ten-minute survey will ask you about your experiences and the impact they have had. The more people who take the time to complete it, the more credence it’ll be given.
If you would like your voice to be heard, please click here to complete the survey. Thank you!The British Dyslexia Association website.

Don’t forget - we have a huge range of assistive hardware and software available to buy online at very competitive pricing on our website. We offer free trials for most of our software, and also the services of our professional, friendly and highly experienced fully DBS checked assistive technology trainers. We also offerWorkplace Strategy Trainingwhich is highly effective in increasing productivity, particularly for Access to Work clients. http://enablingtechnology.com

Dates for your Diary…

National Autistic Society 10th Anniversary Autism Professionals Conference 7 and 8 March 2019, International Convention Centre (ICC), Birmingham Celebrate our 10th anniversary conference, we have a new location, a new venue and 2019′s conference will be one to remember. The annual two-day conference is a unique opportunity for professionals to discuss best practice and share learning. Hear the latest information from leading experts in the field and learn from case studies illustrating best practice. With three different seminar streams to choose from there is something for everyone, also why not attend our Autism Professionals Awards evening which recognises professionals and services who are leading the way in innovative autism practice. https://learn.autism.org.uk/ehome/index.php?eventid=200180853&NAIDEX 2019 26th – 27th March 2019, NEC Birmingham

Naidex is Europe’s most established trade, professional and public event dedicated to the care, rehabilitation and lifestyle of people with a disability or impairment. This esteemed event returns for an unprecedented 45th year, and will propel the industry into the future of inclusion, accessibility, empowerment and efficiency.

Showcasing 350 cutting-edge exhibitors, 250 ground-breaking seminars, live demos, 1-2-1 advice, world-class CPD accredited seminars and unparalleled networking opportunities, Naidex is a hub of innovation in the disability community, bringing the entire industry together under one roof for two unforgettable days.

Naidex is completely free to attend and welcomes groups, families, colleagues and friends. If you are looking to further your knowledge of disability and the wider sector, buy the most innovative products available in the global market, and network with over 15,000 like-minded individuals, register now for you free ticket by clicking here:

http://www.naidex.co.uk/Disability Summit 2019 – Changing mindsets, embracing difference 30/4/2019 9.30am – 4.00pm, The Tower Hotel, St Katherine’s Way, London E1W 1LD With the launch of the new Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES), 2019 is a key year for workforce disability in the NHS. Building on the success of previous events, the 2019 Disability Summit will seek to galvanise action around issues affecting staff with disabilities across the NHS. The event will bring together disabled staff, leaders, managers and practitioners to share their lived experiences of disability in the workplace across the health and social care sector. Delegates will have the opportunity to discover and share ideas, and also access strategies for changing mindsets and embracing difference back in the workplace. https://www.nhsemployers.org/events/2019/04/disability-summit-2019